Introducing the BANK WINDHOEK DOEK LITERARY AWARDS SHORTLIST

The singular sound of soliciting kapana sellers, a suburban tragedy with a twist and the legend of Ouma Sofie’s gold are but a few of the scenes and stories amidst the inaugural Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards shortlist.

Uplifting perhaps the arts’ most unsung stars, the Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards will honour achievements in fiction, nonfiction, visual art and poetry.

Selected from Doek! Literary Magazine’s literary archive by a panel of independent judges, the shortlisted writers and visual artists offer a promising glimpse into Namibia’s blossoming literary scene, an arena rich in untold stories and mined by writers from all walks of life.

Shortlisted for their vivid visual art are Namafu Amutse, Katherine Hunter and Immanuel Natangwe Hafeni. The notable nonfiction nominees are Natasha Uys, Ndakolute Ndilula and Frowin Becker. Ros Limbo, Pauline Buhle Ndhlovu and Alacia Armstrong are the shortlist’s proud poets and this year’s finest in fiction are Dalene Kooper, Filemon Iiyambo and Ndawedwa Denga Hanghuwo.

VISUAL ART

Namafu Amutse

Katherine Hunter

Immanuel Natangwe Hafeni

NONFICTION

Natasha Uys

Ndakolute Ndilula

Frowin Becker

POETRY

Ros Limbo

Pauline Buhle Ndhlovu

Alacia Armstrong

FICTION

Dalene Kooper

Filemon Iiyambo

Ndawedwa Denga Hanghuwo

“The 2021 shortlisted writers, poets, and visual artists share some traits which are common to good storytellers: all of them have rich imaginations and the talent, determination and skill to capture their visions, worlds and narratives on paper,” says Doek! Literary Magazine co-founder and editorin-chief Rémy Ngamije.

“The fiction crackles with suspense, wry humour and keen observation. The nonfiction is unflinching and honest. The poetry resonates with gentle power. And the visual art is bold and expressive,” Ngamije says.

“Without exception, the shortlist presents a curation of some of Namibia’s most promising literary artists who have been published in Doek! Literary Magazine and their works will provide any Namibian reader with resonant themes ranging from migration and homecoming, the friction between history and heritage, confrontations with patriarchal systems and the celebration of the strengths of women, to radical visions of a youth in bloom and, more recently, isolation and reaching for hope during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Now in its second year of publication and noted in a story titled The New Magazines and Journals Shaping Africa’s Literary Scene in The New York Times, Doek! Literary Magazine is a relatively new kid on the literary block but is already making waves with its ambition, focus on community building and validation of Namibian writers.

As Doek! continues to be a stage for the DJs, researchers, students and yogis who are also striving local and continental writers, the Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards serve as an acknowledgement, a celebration, a spotlight and a lure.

“Literary prizes offer visibility; they are a chance for literary communities to publicise their achievements to a broader public with the hope of garnering more readers and securing institutional support for the arts,” says Ngamije.

“They also offer some sort of goal for other artists on their respective journeys of artistic creation. The hope, really, with these Awards is to draw attention to the stories, poems, essays, photographs and illustrations produced by Namibian writers, poets and visual artists who have featured in Doek!.”

From tales about unanswered letters to a famous mother to poetry regarding the sweet emergence from lockdown, stories, poems, essays and visual art from this year’s Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards shortlist can be found at doeklitmag.com. Doek! Literary Magazine is open for submissions until 2 October.

The inaugural Bank Windhoek Doek Literary Awards will take place in November and as news of these affirming and inspiring awards is spreading, the excitement is palpable.

“The response by the shortlistees was nothing short of heartwarming – all of them were quite emotional to have their hard work recognised. Literary artists are just like other artists (such as musicians, actors, or dancers) – to be visible as a creator, and to be recognised for producing excellent work is reaffirming for artists in one of the most underserved artistic fields,” says Ngamije who concludes with a reflection on what he would like the world to know about the Namibian literary scene.

“I would like the world to know that it is here. That it is alive,” he says.

“That, although it might have enjoyed a small role in the continent’s literary tradition, Namibian writers, poets and visual artists will find their voices here at home, and then find their place in Africa and the world.”

Martha Mukaiwa is a columnist and writer based in Windhoek, Namibia in between spirited sojourns around the world. Her narrative nonfiction, personal essays, travel writing and short stories have appeared in Travel Africa, Quartz, Fields & Stations, Holiday, The Africa Report, Truthdig, Matador Network, Africa is a Country, The Namibian & The Kalahari Review. Martha is an honorary writing fellow at the University of Iowa. Read more at marthamukaiwa.com.